Defender hits out at vitriolic criticism following semi-final humiliation
while coach Luiz Felipe Scolari says he will think about his future only
after third-place play-off

As Brazil awoke on Wednesday to one-word headlines of “massacre” and “humiliation”, full-back Dani Alves launched a furious attack on “life’s losers” who are mocking the hosts following their 7-1 capitulation against Germany.

Fred, the striker who was booed by his own fans in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday, admitted that he would be scarred for life, while Fernandinho, who was substituted at half-time following a truly terrible display, said that he did not know when he would recover from the trauma of the match.

Alves was more forthright. “I know a lot of life’s losers and idiots will make fun,” he said on Instagram.

“But I would like to say publicly that I am privileged to be part of this group – you are the best, you are champions, you are what all the idiots will never be, because you have excelled and succeeded in life. Bad days come into our lives and they help you learn to appreciate the good days.”

Alves admitted that Brazil had “failed” their people but said that their careers would be about far more than just one game. “It won’t be stained by a single match, or by the elimination,” he said. “Our fight, and where we reached, nothing can stain this. Football isn’t just about one match.”

Hulk, the Brazil winger, said that the players must now “raise our heads” ahead of the third-place play-off on Saturday following what he called a 10-minute “blackout” when Germany scored four times.

Willian, who was surprisingly overlooked for the match by Luiz Felipe Scolari, described the semi-final as “one of those inexplicable stories of football” while many of the German players – with the exception of goalkeeper Manuel Neuer – admitted to being in shock.

“When the goals were going in during the first half we just kept looking at each other as if to say ‘What is going on here?’,” said Julian Draxler. “I have never seen anything like it and I am just so proud to be part of this team.”

Scolari said on Wednesday that he would only think about his future after Saturday's third-place play-off.

"We still have work," Scolari said. "We have a commitment with the CBF [Brazilian Football Confederation] until the end of the World Cup. And the end of the World Cup is Saturday."

"It is only after this game we will talk with the CBF, that's when we will decide," added Scolari, who started a second stint as Brazil coach in December 2012.

He also tried to put a positive spin on Brazil's performance, pointing out: "It's the first time we reached a semi-final since 2002 so maybe our work wasn't so bad."

Per Mertesacker, ther Germany defender, admitted to feeling “sorry” for the Brazilian players while André Schürrle said that he did not think it would be appropriate even to joke with his Chelsea team-mates – Ramires, Oscar and Willian – about the result.

“I don’t think you can,” he said. “It’s hard for them. They played a fantastic tournament with the emotions. They gave everything. They gave their heart.”

Neuer added: “I don’t think people will be shocked by this. Every team respects us. Now it’s very important for us to keep calm. We must remember that it is not important what we did in the semi-final.”